About Us

We are Mid Hants Railway, affectionately known as the ‘Watercress Line’ due to our connection with transporting watercress from the beds in Alresford all the way in to London. This heritage railway was saved from total extinction by a band of enthusiastic volunteers in 1973. They raised enough money to re-open the line as a visitor attraction from Alresford to Ropley in 1977 and continued to raise funds to relay the track to join up with the South West Trains station at Alton by 1985, with our own station buildings on Platform 3. We operate a fleet of steam locomotives, most of them of the larger classes, as they are required to work hard to haul trains up and over the steeply graded line. Today the railway runs the full 10 miles between the market towns of Alresford and Alton, preserving an important piece of our 1940’s – 70’s railway heritage for this generation and many more to follow.

The Mid Hants Railway is a not for profit organisation which has always been funded by the generosity of its supporters and visitors. All profit generated from your visit is reinvested in the railway to ensure that this piece of Britain's railway heritage will still be here for future generations to enjoy. We thank you for your generosity and your support of this aim.

The MHRPS (reg.Charity 284406) has the major shareholding in The Mid Hants Railway Ltd, you can become a member by using the membership registration form.